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She faced eight opponents in next fall's election for her at-large seat, including Randy Toler and Charles Brink. Griffin said she is going to be "pursuing some private endeavors" instead. She is in her second term, and has been chairwoman of the seven-member board for the past year.

Thursday's move marks the second time this year that Griffin has opted out of a political race. In August, she ended her run for a Hillsborough County Commission seat, saying the nation's eighth-largest school district needed her full attention.

In recent months, Griffin has been involved in an ongoing conflict with schools superintendent MaryEllen Elia.

Griffin gave Elia the lowest possible score on a recent performance review and called Elia's administration iron-fisted and autocratic.

This story was edited to include the following correction: Michelle Popp Shimberg is running for the Hillsborough County School Board seat in District 2, which includes South Tampa. Charles Brink is the co-founder of the MonaVie beverage company.